Upshot pipe ripper



Oct. 29, 1929. s. P. POWERS UPSHOT PIPE RIPPER Filed Feb. 9, 1924Patented Oct. 29, 1929 UNITED STATES SAMUEL P. POWERS, OF WOOSTER, OHIOUPSHOT PIPE RIPPER Application filed February 9, 1924.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for withdrawing pipecasings and lost tools from drilled wells, and particularly the classused for ripping apart pipe casings in '5 drilled wells, such as for oiland gas at points a distance below the surface, in order to draw out thepipe casings from the drilled hole, and also to reach and recover bottomjoints or sections of casings after separation.

It consists mainly of an up-shot ripper tool adapted to be lowered inthe well casing to points below the surface where the meeting ends ofthe joints of pipe are located, the tool being equipped with a ripperknife adapted to automatically enter the space between the meeting endsof the casing opposite the connecting sleeve or collar in such a manneras to rip open the joint and free the casing from the collar, and thuspermit the casing above the joint to be withdrawn from the hole of thewell.

It further consists of improved means for stabilizing the ripper toolwithin the casing, and means for ascertaining the position of tools lostin the well, and for opening up and straightening injured, crooked orflattened casings, and for preventing the tool from being locked in thecasing,all as hereinafter fully set forth and stated in the appendedclaims.

My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in whichsimilar letters and figures of reference indicate like parts.

Referring thereto, Fig. l is a side view of my invention, with a portioncut away to bet ter illustrate the frictional members hereafterdescribed, and Fig. 2 is a like view at an angle of forty-five degreesfrom the view point of Fig. 1, showin in the cut away parts theripper-knife, and other items mentioned hereafter.

In the drawings, A is the shank portion of my upper-cut pipe ripper (socalled), B, the

- body, and C the pilot point thereof. D is the ripper-knife, and G andH are sectional parts of pipe casing, and I is the collar or sleeve intowhich the adjacent ends of the casings G and H are threaded in the usualwell known E is a flat spring mounted in a longitudmal Serial No.691,855.

slot J in the body P to actuate the ripper knife outwardly, as shown inFig. 2, said knife being pivotally mounted on a strong axle pin 7'fitted transversely thru the lower end of the body portion of the tool,and adapted to swing outwardly and downwardly in said slot as shown bydotted lines D, for a purpose hereafter stated. Said spring E is securedin position near its upper end by the pin 6, its lower end being adaptedto engage the no upper end of the ripper-knife for the purpose stated.

F, F is a pair of friction plates mounted in longitudinal slots oppositeeach other in the Y body B, and each movably held in position therein bya suitable bolt g, passed loosely therethrough into the tool body andadapted to slide outwardly thereon by force of the springs f; a. limiteddistance, as shown in Fig. 1 so as to bear resiliently upon the adjacentinner surface of the pipe casing G, whereby the tool is prevented fromdropping by gravity, and is stabilized for better operation of theripper knife. Frictional plates as heretofore used for a similar purposehave been defective in not affording suflicient frictional surface toprovide the amount of resistance required to hold or stabilize the toolin the casing during the ripping operation, the frictional surface ofthe bowed plates employed being limited to only the central portionthereof, and such I do not claim broadly, as such are not located noractuated in the tool body.

My slide plates are movably held in position in opposite longitudinalgrooves, respectively, by means of a central bolt 9 loosely fitting anorifice at or near the longitudinal center of the plate, and outwardpressure thereon is accomplished by means of a pair of springs ff, onelocated at or near each end of the plate, substantially as shown in Fig.1; additional springs may be supplied in like manner intermediate theends of the plate, and thus the amount of friction required in any casemay be regulated accordingly.

The shank A of the tool is preferably squared, as at a, and the joint I)is tapered and threaded in the usual way of connecting well drillingtools.

The lower end of the tool body is tapered to a pilot point C, to serveas a swage within the pipe casing where the latter has been flattened orotherwise injured from without, and also to serve as a feeler forcasings yet in the well, or for straightening the casing by entering theupper end of a pipe which may be separated or deflected in the hole ofthe well.

The severing of the casings in the well at any joint therein isaccomplished by first letting down the tool with the ripper knife turneddownwards so as to pass the joints freely, until the pilot point C showsthe easing to be clear, and, having noted this distance, withdraw thetool and turn the ripper knife D so as to point upwardly and restagainst the fiat spring E, as shown in Fig. 2, then push the tool downin the casing until the point d of the ripper-knife D drops into thespace between the adjacent ends of the casings to be separated. When theknife sets in this position percussive force may be applied upwardlyfrom above the surface until the knife has cut its way'thru the threadedportion of the upper adjacent casing G and turns outwardly above thecollar I from which the threaded end of the casing G has been ripped,and is thus disengaged from the casing as it drops by gravity into theslot J,

as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The pipe ripper tool may then bewithdrawn, and the casings above the ripped apart joint may be drawn outof the hole quite freely.

It is apparent that the casings may be removed, one joint after another,as may be desired; and being thus removed, access is afforded to reach'and fish out any sections that are below the removed portion, by theusual and well known gripping and lifting tools in use for the purpose.The point of the ripper knife D is shaped so that it will not cut intoor engage the inner surface of the casings except at the joints thereof,as

aforesaid, and the ripper knife is set at such an angle in the slot J,and its terminus (Z is projected laterally and shaped so as to slideupon and over the inner surface of the collar I 'in the cuttingoperation thereby forcing the knife edge inwardly and upwardly thru thethreaded end of the casing, and, at the same time, thereby forcing thelatter apart from the collar.

I am aware that devices having some features somewhat similarly operablehave been heretofore used, and such I do not broadly claim. My inventionis distinguished therefrom by the novel means employed for rippingthecasing and at the same time forcibly separatingit from the collar,improved means for stabilizing the tool body, and means in connectiontherewlth f'or swaglng and straightening damaged or crooked casings soas to bring the ripping knife into position therein automatically forthe purpose, and to further serve as a pilot in feeling for lost tools,and locating them for their removal from the casing after ripping anupper casing from the collar. To rip the casing from the collar, moreeiiiciently than has been possible heretofore, and at the same timeprevent the ripper knife from penetrating the casing at a pointintermediate its ends as heretofore likely, I construct the ripper knifewith a laterally projecting point at its terminus, adapted to rideagainst the collar, with an inward incline suflicient to prevent thesharp end from impinging the inner surface of the casing except at itsend, or damaging the collar, while its pressure thereon serves to forcethe threaded end of the casing apart from the collar in the operation,as aforesaid. The essential shape of such knife point is shown in Fig.2, an enlargement of that shown in Fig. 1.

By the c'onstruc'tion of the cylindrical body I3 adapted to slideclosely up and down in the casing, and lengthened by the addition of thepointed terminus G; and, by means of the opposite spring actuated platesF, set in grooves within the body, the tool is stabilized for theripping operation better than has been heretofore possible, and muchlarger frictional surface obtained, without the liability of the springsbeing broken off on account of their exposure, as in pipe rippersheretofore used.

The pilot point C is aiprolongation of the body of the tool and extendssome distance beyond the location of the ripper knife, asshown in Fig.2, and'serves as a swage andto accomplish the other objects stated, andwithout this element the tool would, in many cases,

be valueless. I H

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim is 1. An up-shot pipe ripper, comprising combination, acylindrical tool body terminating at its lower end with a conical point,and provided with a pair of longitudinal slots opposite each other insaid body; a longitudinal slot in said body intermediate said'nai'r;

a ripper knife pivotally hung diagonally in.

passed loosely thru the perforation into said body, to guide and limitthe movement of said plate, and resilient members set under each plateto impel it outwardly againstthe adjacent pipe casing, substantially as'set forth.

goo

2. A tool for disconnecting Well casing at its coupling pointscomprising a shaft; a dog arranged to project from, and swing in an arcbeyond, said shaft, a cutting edge on said dog; and a breaking face onsaid dog extending from said cutting edge substantially at right anglesto the axis of said dog and arranged so that the breaking face will beforced through the casing above the point of initial contact of thecutting edge With the casing.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand this 7th day of February, A.D. 1924.

SAMUEL P. POWERS.

